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The best kids tech experiences don't happen by accident. They follow from someone designing carefully for a specific situation.
In this episode of Parent Tech, I sit down with Nichole Rouillac, CEO of industrial design studio level and mom of two, to hear how she thinks about technology for her kids. We cover what she's actually doing and why.
Nichole has worked with Microsoft, Logitech, Tempo, and Nex, and has a thoughtful approach to kids tech. She's been thinking about this stuff for years from a different vantage point than most parents.
We get into:
- Her work with the team at Nex on the Playground — the cube shape, the colors, and the monocle camera cover
- How audiobooks and Osmo helped her daughter become an avid reader
- The Tonie Box, Yoto, Tin Can Phone, and Apple Watch — what she chose for each of her kids and why
- Parental controls — what she actually does and why it still takes effort
- How her 12-year-old uses Roblox, Minecraft, and coding as both social and creative outlets
- Her device and app recommendations for different ages
Resources mentioned:
My Nex Playground review: www.parent.tech/p/nex-playground-review-all-is-forgiven
Ash Brandin's Power On (referenced in episode): www.parent.tech/p/book-review-power-on
Joan Ganz Cooney Center family tech cycle report: joanganzcooneycenter.org/publication/the-family-tech-cycle
📌 Subscribe for more interviews, insights, and stories from parents at www.parent.tech
Learn more about Nichole and level at www.leveldesignsf.com
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Nichole's background — designing for families as a mom and studio CEO
01:28 The Nex Playground design story
05:29 The monocle — designing a camera cover
07:29 How Nichole thinks about kids and technology
10:38 Screen time philosophy and her two kids
12:24 Social screen time — Roblox, Minecraft, and staying connected with classmates
13:29 Parental controls — what works and what still takes effort
15:06 The Tin Can Phone
16:30 The Apple Watch and giving her daughter independence
18:02 How technology helped her daughter love reading
20:49 Osmo — physical letter tiles and the iPad
23:44 What to look for in education technology
26:24 Independence and devices designed for kids to use on their own
28:07 Her 12-year-old's interests — coding, robotics, writing her own video games
33:53 YouTube as a starting point — balloon animals, cooking, crafts
39:15 Device and app recommendations — Yoto, Osmo, Endless Reader, KiwiCo, Nex Playground
41:01 Family favorites on the Nex Playground
42:06 Closing
